Nicola Houghton is alleged to have commented on a male colleague’s genitals and run her hand up the leg of a teaching assistant
04:00, 09 Jan 2025Updated 14:30, 09 Jan 2025
Rowan Park School in Litherland. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A former assistant headteacher at a Sefton school for children with severe, complex, profound and multiple learning difficulties faces allegations she offered additional planning time to colleagues in exchange for sexual favours. Nicola Houghton progressed from class teacher to a leadership role during her time at Rowan Park School in Litherland from 2012 to July 2021.
A teacher regulation agency (TRA) hearing was told how during that time, Miss Houghton allegedly engaged in inappropriate behaviour towards junior members of staff, including commenting on a male colleague’s genitals, feeling a teaching assistant’s breasts and opening one woman’s top and placing paper down it. It was said on one occasion, she ran her hand up the leg of a teaching assistant and claimed it was a game.
Jonathan Storey, representing Miss Houghton, said she accepted some of the alleged incidents did occur but denied they were sexually motivated. Heather Andersen, presenting officer on behalf of the TRA, said the former assistant headteacher had tried to pass them off as banter.
Mrs Andersen said Miss Houghton had made sexualised statements to junior colleagues as well as inappropriately touching them which “strayed significantly” from the standards expected of a leader in education. She said this was “not just simple banter” and had a “lasting impact on staff she was responsible for.”
The hearing was told Miss Houghton had originally denied any allegations during an initial school investigation, suggesting it was an attack by a group of staff members who wanted her to leave. It was said the former teacher “felt betrayed” by the allegations and missed working with the children.
The presenting officer said the former Rowan Park staff member claimed she had “fallen into an inappropriate culture” at the school and had not instigated it. Regards the allegation she had offered additional planning time in exchange for sexual favours, this was meant as a joke, it was said.
Mr Storey said his client was “embarrassed” to be at the hearing and accepted she had failed to change the “inappropriate and sexualised” culture among staff at Rowan Park while in a position of leadership, rather she had “indulged and extended it.” He added how Miss Houghton said she was “very sorry” if she had made colleagues feel uncomfortable and fully accepted the seriousness of the allegations put to her.
The hearing’s first day concluded with testimony from a teaching assistant at Rowan Park, who was assigned to Miss Houghton’s class between 2016 and 2018. She said during a game of “Nervous” the teacher placed her hand on her thigh and began moving it up.
The teaching assistant said it wasn’t unusual for Miss Houghton to be like that and she wasn’t alarmed by what happened or considered it an overly serious matter. She added that conversations among staff were often of a sexual nature.
On another occasion, it was alleged Miss Houghton felt the same staff member’s breasts, made remarks about her bottom and told her colleague she had a dream about them of a sexual nature. Mr Storey said his client had asked him to apologise if she had made the staff member feel awkward or uncomfortable and that she had enjoyed working with her.
The hearing continues. Rowan Park was approached for comment.